Staying airborne

FORT MCCOY, Wis. –  As Missouri Apaches flew through the Wisconsin sky, below them armament and refueling sections worked tirelessly to keep the attack helicopters in the air.

On the forward area refueling and rearming point, soldiers with the 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion’s armament and refueling sections kept the Apaches stocked with ammunition and fuel.

Although their jobs are very different, the soldiers from the two sections worked as a team to make their training scenarios more realistic.

“When the aircraft lands, the armament section loads the ammo and we pump the fuel,” said Staff Sgt. Michael McMinn, of Warrensburg. “We all have to be on the ball. Time is important, so we refuel while they reload.”

Spc. Jason Lanni, of Omaha, Neb. said that quickness is key in their mission. He explained that the soldiers were training for real-world missions where lost time means lost lives.

“If we didn’t train in real-world situations, it would hurt our overall combat effectiveness,” Lanni said.

The armament section consisted of two teams of soldiers, working around the clock. Staff Sgt. Barry Keck, of Sedalia, said the teams loaded over 4,500 rockets and 1,400 rounds of ammunition.

They also ensured the ammunition was safe from electrical currents and verified that all the weapons were safe.

“We are a critical link in the success of the Apache gunnery qualifications,” Keck said. “These are eager, young soldiers and they are all doing great.”

The refueling section’s 16 soldiers worked with over 20,000 gallons of fuel during the exercise.

McMinn explained that the soldiers’ jobs are extremely dangerous and fast-paced.

“We run out to take care of the Apaches while the blades are still running,” McMinn said.

“It’s a dangerous job, but it sure is exciting.”

Spc. Daniel Hurst, of Independence, said he chose to work on the point because of the excitement.

“This job is always exciting and an adventure,” Hurst said. “I also wanted the bragging rights. I get to say my job is loading rockets.”

While the excitement and bragging rights brought Hurst in, he said the friends are what keep him around.

“The best part is building camaraderie,” Hurst said. “We usually just see each other once a month, but at training we actually get to have fun and do our job for two weeks straight.”

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